9 Signs You’re on a Fad Diet

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As a lifelong nutritionist, I know that people sincerely want to be healthy and lose weight. But they are confused about how to get there, and a concrete diet plan seems like the answer. Quick weight loss sweetens the pot.

Sometimes a new eating style can be a kick off to better health, but fad diets (or crash diets that promise a speedy slim down) can also be dangerous. They often restrict nutrients to a point of harming your body and distorting your mind. Not only are they harmful in the short and long run, but every fad diet is a missed opportunity to work on lasting change.

Since diets have passionate creators and it’s hard not to fall for their zeal, I use these red flags to tell whether a diet is harmful or helpful. I stay away from diets that:

1. Promise quick results with little or no effort2. Promise weight loss of more than two pounds a week3. Eliminate one or more food groups4. Recommend eating a single food over and over5. Base evidence of effectiveness on testimonies from other dieters6. Are written or advertised by a celebrity7. Use supplements or pills as part of the plan8. Show little or no scientific evidence that the methods used by the diet work9. Do not include suggestions to consult with your doctor or a registered dietitian